I BECOME PROTAGONIST FATHER?

In the dimly lit bathroom, a boy named Alex was in the midst of relieving himself.

As he did so, he was also engrossed in his favorite novel displayed on his tablet, gripping his little brother, who was crying softly, in his other hand.

The flickering screen cast a pale glow, adding to the shadows around him, while Alex appeared increasingly fatigued and worn out.

He was a third-year student, navigating the struggles of his teenage years as an introvert, and sadly, he found himself without any close friends to turn to.

Ever since he started school, Alex had continuously searched for something that could spark joy and excitement in his life.

This quest led him to discover the captivating worlds of novels and anime, which quickly turned into a consuming addiction.

Many nights were spent with little to no sleep as he read page after page, absorbed in thrilling stories that kept him awake well into the early hours.

Tonight was no different.

He had been captivated by plots and characters in his room all night long, managing to stay up while the world outside his window slumbered peacefully.

The only reason he finally left the refuge of his room was the urgent need to relieve himself.

While standing there, it seemed as though he was sleep-pissing, barely aware of his surroundings.

His eyelids felt heavy, and his eyes were trembling with exhaustion, struggling to maintain focus on the words gliding across the tablet screen.

With sluggish and uncoordinated movements, he finally zipped up his pants and, still dazed, flushed the toilet while squinting through his sleepy haze.

He made his way towards the door, unexpectedly, his foot found an ill-placed spot on the wet bathroom floor.

"ahh" In an instant, he lost his balance, and before he could brace himself, he crashed his head onto the hard surface of the toilet seat.

The impact was catastrophic, and he succumbed instantly, leaving behind a tragic scene.

The once mundane bathroom transformed into a chaotic mix of horror and blood, a stark contrast to the quiet life Alex had led until that moment.

Note: Addiction can kill you, no matter what type. Please do things in moderation.

In a dark, red, hell-like place, Alex was seated in front of a very beautiful woman. She asked in a flirtatious tone, "So, are you ready?"

Thirty minutes earlier

A soul was wandering in a bright white sky.

"Where am I? What is this place? Hello, anyone?"

It was Alex, who had recently died. Suddenly, a black hole-like portal appeared out of nowhere and sucked him in.

It happened so quickly that he didn't have time to think. It felt like he was going through a black cloud like-underwear in a washing machine.

"Ahhh!" After 1-2 minutes, he landed on the black ground. He was in soul form and didn't have much support. Floating above the ground, he grabbed his head with both hands and looked around.

He saw a wide purple palace with gold-plated designs on it. The palace looked marvelous. The wide-open gold gate was large enough to let a truck in.

Two imposing guards detected his presence and began to make their way toward him.

He, too, became aware of their approach as they drew closer, their heavy footsteps echoing in the courtyard.

"Come with us," they ordered with a tone that left no room for argument.

Without offering any reasoning or context for their demand, they strode purposefully into the grand entrance of the palace.

"Wait!" he called out, urgency in his voice as he hurried after them, as he moved closer.

He took note of their dark, imposing armor that glinted ominously in the fading light.

They towered at least 8 to 9 feet tall, dwarfing his own stature in comparison.

Despite the fear that began to creep in, he chose to remain silent, suppressing his questions and concerns, and quietly trailed behind them, curious yet apprehensive about where they were leading him.

Inside, it was a beautiful place straight out of a fairy tale, with magical things like green fire, fairies, and floating books.

He kept moving until he saw a throne of purple crystal.

A woman in a sleek black-brown dress with a red gem imprinted was sitting on the throne.

She looked innocent yet had an air of evil beauty, with sharp eyes, plump lips, black-purple hair, and an ancient queen-like hairstyle.

Her beauty was unmatched by anything he had ever seen.

"My queen," the guards intoned with reverence, kneeling down in synchrony in front of her, their heads bowed low in a display of fealty and respect.

Yet she did not even spare them a glance, her gaze firmly fixed on Alex, as if he were the only one that mattered in that moment.

"Leave," she commanded with a tone that brooked no argument, her eyes half-closed, heavy with fatigue as if she were battling the urge to succumb to sleep.

With a quick, respectful bow, the guards complied and quietly exited the room, their footsteps fading away into the distance.

Alex remained frozen in place, captivated by her striking beauty, yet his heart was heavy with concern about the oppressive atmosphere of this place.

She noticed he didn't ask any questions, so she spoke first, her voice slightly drowsy. "Alex from Earth, a very lazy and lonely person dumped by his girlfriend because you were lazy and good for nothing. Your mom and dad died in an instant plane crash. You lived your whole life like a dead log on Earth."

Alex was shocked. "Who are you, and how do you know all that?"

"You are on the planet of sin, at the palace of one of the most powerful sins," she said, her eyes lazily fluttering shut between sentences.

"Lust?"

"No."

"Greed?"

"No."

"Envy?"

"No."

"Anger? You did say you're one of the powerful sins," he guessed.

She looked at him, fuming with annoyance despite her half-closed eyes. "I am Sloth."

"Huh? Oh, right, Sloth," he said, looking sideways.

"Are you taking me for a fool? You do know that everyone in your world is lazy?" she said, her voice trailing off as if she might doze off at any moment.

He nodded. "Yeah." He understood what she meant, so he didn't press further.

"Why am I here in the first place? Is this hell?"

"As I said, I am Sloth, your biggest sin. I've been observing you for a while. You've been lazy your whole life, and here I judge if you are worthy of a second chance or not. This is somewhat like hell," she murmured, her voice thick with sleepiness.

"You mean reincarnation, transmigration, or isekai?" he asked, a hint of expectation in his voice.

"Yes and no," she replied, stifling a yawn.

"It all depends on your luck, the luck you cultivate by doing good karma. Come with me." She slowly got up, her movements sluggish as she levitated slightly above the ground, as if walking was too much effort.

She led him to a red balcony near a table. "Sit."

He sat, emotionless. He looked at her.

She snapped, though it seemed like it took an extra effort, and a transparent football-sized ball appeared in front of him.

"This will calculate your karma and give blessings according to it from your past seven lives."

"If your karma is negative, you will be executed according to the rules," she explained, her voice growing softer as if she might drift off to sleep any second.

He looked at the big ball, seriously.

"So, are you ready?" she asked flirtatiously, her eyes closing completely as she asked the question.

"Yes."

"Place your hand on this, let's see what you get," she instructed, her voice barely above a whisper.

He placed his hand on it and felt a connection. As time passed, he grew increasingly worried.

He was in soul form; otherwise, he would have pissed himself from fear.

The ball started shining brightly.

"Tch" She opened her eyes slightly with annoyance and surprise.

"It's my first time seeing it." She was somewhat excited now as this was her first time to see someone using karmatma.

She was recently apointed as a new queen in this barean universe, as a person from sloth race it was her destiny to loom over everyones dream.

Alex blinked in disbelief as the shining ball cast a radiant glow around him.

He felt a warmth spreading through his soul, a stark contrast to the earlier cold dread.

The woman—Sloth now regard him with newfound interest, her previous annoyance replaced by curiosity.

A dark, ominous cloud began to gather above him, swirling and thickening in a way that made the atmosphere feel heavy with foreboding.

With a hint of unease, Alex looked up at the billowing smoke looming over the roof.

"What could this mean?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of curiosity.

"It means," she replied, her tone soft yet authoritative despite her drowsiness, "that you've accumulated significant good karma from your past lives. Enough for not just a second chance, but also some boons."

"What kind of boons?" Alex inquired, intrigued.

"You can wish for anything to assist you in your next life, but choose wisely—your wishes are limited."

"That smoke above represents the universal spirit that will grant your wish based on your karma," she said, her eyes beginning to droop again.

"Is that so? Hmm," Alex leaned back, taking his time to consider every prospect and scenario.

7 minutes Later

A profound warmth started to radiate deep within him, enveloping his very core as the dense black smoke gradually encircled him, seeping into his being at a slow but deliberate pace.

It was an unusual sensation, a mix of comfort and uncertainty, as he felt the shadows draw closer.

"Hahaha, brat, you are really something," she said, amused and impressed by his wishes. She leaned on the table, her cleavage pressing against it.